Taxi Driver Online

Bolton again


Police investigation after bricks thrown at taxi in Breightmet

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19 ... reightmet/


Image: The Bolton News

A TAXI driver and his passenger have been left shaken after yobs threw a brick at the vehicle smashing a window.

The shocking incident happened on Tuesday evening as Uber driver, Ibrahim Patel, was taking a customer to Breightmet.

A group of teenagers were said to be throwing bricks at the car with one shattering the passenger's window.

The passenger was left with glass on her legs, and is described as still being in 'shock' after the incident, and Mr Patel is described as being too scared to go to work.

The incident happened at around 7pm.

Mr Patel was too upset about the incident to speak to The Bolton News.

But Vice chairman of the Bolton Private Hire Association, Mahmood Akhtar, said: "The brick just missed her face, and the lads were laughing afterwards.

"It could have killed somebody.

"We also have our family to think about because who will look after them if something happens.

"I think we are targeted because we are taxis and 90 per cent of drivers here are Asian, so it is a racial thing too.

"The public safety is paramount and it is our job to make sure everyone is safe and sound, but what about the drivers' safety?"


Image: The Bolton News

Mr Akhtar said the driver had to stop his car and find somewhere safe to park so he could process what had happened.

And was able to take the customer home, but has not returned to work since the incident.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said they are investigating the attack.

He said: "I can confirm we were called at 7:15pm and offender disappeared. The incident has now been assigned to an officer for further investigation."

Mr Akhtar said that attacks on taxis are taking place across Bolton every day.

Taxis have previously been attacked with bricks in a spate of attacks by vandals, which left one passenger needing stitches on their face.

During this time Metro Cars taxi driver Raja Talat Mahmood, was driving on Winchester Way in Breightmet, when his windscreen was smashed by a brick.

Since then there have been several violent attacks towards taxi drivers, including Ali Mahboob, from Bolton, who was severely beaten by seven youths in April 2019, after he asked a gang of teenage boys to stop throwing stones at his car.

And there have been incidents wheren children as young as 10 were caught throwing eggs, stones and bricks at moving vehicles.


Image: The Bolton News

Someone on the website is obviously all heart - somehow I doubt that's what she's doing with her phone:

Scum kids who no doubt have parents that think they are little angels.

Sad thing is there is nothing legally that will stop them.

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IDFIMH

Usual PR spiel from councillors and police here, but whether it actually means anything more than PR spiel, who knows?


Police and councillors working to stop attacks on taxi drivers

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19 ... i-drivers/

RECENT attacks on taxis is making Breightmet a no go area for drivers, it has emerged.

Police and councillors have branded the attacks as 'mindless' and have pledged to tackle the criminal behaviour.

The Bolton News reported just recently how a brick was lobbed at a moving private hire vehicle in the area, leaving the driver and the passenger shaken-up.

Ward councillors Stuart Hartigan and Adele Warren say they are aware of the recent incident and other similar incidents in the area.

Cllr Hartigan said: "We have had some issues on Winchester and Lenham Gardens. I do want to stress that it is a very small minority, and not everybody.

"But some taxis don't want to go to areas like Breightmet after 6pm.

"Taxi drivers provide an essential service for local people, getting to medical appointments etc. We don't want to lose taxis."

He added: "It's the vulnerable residents that suffer the most.

"It's unsafe for them and taxi drivers themselves who have families, and are trying to make a living,

"You shouldn't be attacked in your job. This needs to stop straight away.

"Someone could be seriously hurt or worse.

"We urge the police to take a proactive approach to help resolve this."

The two councillors have since spoken to the taxi driver about the incident.

Superintendent Chris Bridge, of GMP’s Bolton district, said: "Reports of attacks are concerning, and an understandably traumatic experience for the victims involved, who in these cases were simply trying to do carry out their job.

"This type of mindless and violent behaviour will not be tolerated towards anyone in our community and we are currently working with our partners including the council and local taxi firms to build a wider picture around these incidents, and ensure that those responsible are held to account.

"It’s really important that any offences are reported to police so that we can act on it at the earliest possible opportunity."

A neighbourhood watch meeting was held last night, where the issue was expected to be raised.

The problem with the police is that they say nice words, but it's not top of their priority list. Nowhere near.

But it should be, not just for the trade's safety but because the scroats doing the damage will go on to bigger and worser offending.

This is why zero-tolerance policies need to be adopted in places such as this.

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IDFIMH